South Island breast cancer screening mammographers employed by the Pacific Radiology Group (PRG) will strike for 24 hours on Monday 14th of February in Dunedin and Invercargill and another 24-hour strike on Tuesday the 15th February in Christchurch, Timaru and Nelson. This represents an escalation of the industrial dispute, after they went on strike for full day on December 16th and have been implementing partial strikes this week, with not performing biopsies and striking after 5pm
Mammographers who work performing diagnostic mammograms and state funded breast cancer screening are paid up to 14% less than their counterparts employed in the District Health Boards for performing the exact same job. In December PRG became a majority owner of Bay Radiology where APEX union members will soon be paid up to 17% more than their colleagues at PRG.
APEX, the union representing mammographers has been bargaining with PRG for more than 7 months and despite the glaring pay gap, they have refused to yet make a pay offer.
Meanwhile the Breast Cancer Foundation has raised serious concerns about the backlog in breast cancer screening. They estimate that Covid 19 has set screening back ten years with a backlog of up to 50,000 patients and that 133 women could die from breast cancer unless the government takes urgent action. Together with the impact of screening of Omicron, where it is estimated at a least quarter of the work force could be stood down, the strike will further delay screening.
APEX Senior Advocate, Luke Coxon said:
Mammographers deeply care about the women they screen and detecting cancer before it can kill; they have not taken this decision to escalate strike lightly.
There is currently a nation-wide shortage of mammographers and together with the impact of the pandemic New Zealand’s screening programme is lagging far behind where it should be. The breast cancer foundation has estimated that 133 women could die as a result.
PRG know its mammographers are underpaid and can afford to the pay market wage rates, yet despite this we have not received a pay offer after 7 months of bargaining. PRG are tone deaf to the need to pay fairly and the impact of this dispute on breast cancer screening. Profits are being prioritised at the expense of NZs breast cancer screening program.
ENDS
Contact:
Luke Coxon
APEX Senior Advocate
021 904 888
Email: luke@apex.org.nz
What do mammographers do?
Mammography is specialised medical imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray system to see inside the breasts. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, aids in the early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women.
Screening mammograms can save lives by finding breast cancer early before it spreads. Pacific Radiology Group (PRG) are contracted to provide screening for Breast Screen Aotearoa (BSA), New Zealand’s state funded and free national breast screening programme for women aged between 45 and 69.